Language

Most of the older population speak Latvian & Russian, some speak German and occasionally English. In the Old Town, younger people involved in the tourist trade will usually understand English quite well and lots of restaurant menu's are available in English.

Outside of Old Riga and away from tourist areas, English is much less common, some Russian or Latvian phrases will be very helpful.

Latvian, is an Indo-European language. This doesn't mean it's easier to speak, but at least it is in the same area as German, English and most other European languages. Latvian is related to Lithuanian, and people from the two nations can roughly understand each other. The stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Ya/Yes 
Nay/No
Sveiki/Hello
Visu labu/Bye
Labdien/Good day
Ludzu/Please Paldies/Thanks
Te/here
Jus/You (formal)
Tu/You (informal)
Mani sauc/My name is....
Ka tev iet?/How are you?
Es nesaprotu/I don’t understand
Vai Jus runajat angliski?/ Do you speak English?
Kur atrodas ...?/Where is ...?
Iela/Street 
Laukums/Square
Nauda/Money
Es veletos/ I would like...
Cik tas maksa/How much does it cost? 
Atverts/Open 
Slegts/Closed
Restorans/Restaurant 
Kafejnica/Café
Alus/Beer 
Sula/Juice
Mineraludens/Mineral Water
Piens/Milk 
Gala/Meat 
Maize/Bread
Ludzu, rekinu/The bill please
Prieka/Cheers
viens/one divi/two tris/three cetri/four pieci/five sesi/six septini/seven astoni/eight devini/nine desmit/ten simts/100 tukstotis/1000